US President Joe Biden on Monday reiterated his firm support for Israel’s 'right to defend itself' against indiscriminate rocket attacks and also encouraged Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians, the White House said.
'The President spoke today (Monday) with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The President reiterated his firm support for Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks. The President welcomed efforts to address intercommunal violence and to bring calm to Jerusalem', the White House said in a readout of the telephonic call.
He encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians. The two leaders discussed progress in Israel’s military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, it added.
The President expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed US engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end. The two leaders agreed that they and their teams would remain in close touch, it concluded.
The situation on the border between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip has been tense for the past week as heavy rockets have been fired from both the sides, resulting in the death of nearly 200 Palestinians, including 58 children. Israel has reported 10 deaths and 50 injured. An Indian origin caretaker had also died in one such attack.
Gaza: Death toll reaches 212
Gaza's Health Ministry said 212 Palestinians were killed, including 61 children, and 1,400 were injured in Israeli attacks since the beginning of the fresh round of violence.
The ministry's spokesman said that, according to examinations by medical crews, "it is clear that the Israeli occupation targets defenseless civilians in their homes and neighborhoods using excessive force."
Gaza officials say Israeli strike hit their sole COVID testing lab
The only coronavirus laboratory in Gaza can no longer carry out testing as the clinic housing it was hit by an Israeli airstrike Monday, health officials said.
The Israeli attacks "threaten to undermine the efforts of the health ministry in the face of the COVID pandemic," said Gaza's Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra.
The Qatari Red Crescent said an Israeli air strike also damaged its offices in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Red Crescent said it was due to Israeli forces "targeting a civilian building."
"Targeting these buildings, which are not used for military purposes, is a flagrant violation of the principles of international humanitarian law," the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
Netanyahu says fighting will continue
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) struck at Hamas' naval unit and "are continuing to strike at underground targets."
Israel "will continue to operate as long as needed to restore quiet and security to all Israelis," Netanyahu said.
Israel has recorded 10 deaths, including a 5-year-old boy and a soldier, in the ongoing rocket attacks launched from Gaza toward Israel.
Erdogan says Biden has 'bloody hands'
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed US President Joe Biden for backing Israel in the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
"You are writing history with your bloody hands," Erdogan said in remarks addressed to Biden.
"Today we saw Biden's signature on weapons sales to Israel," the Turkish president said in reference to media reports of a new arms deal approved by the Biden administration.
"Palestinian territories are awash with persecution, suffering and blood, like many other territories that lost the peace with the end of the Ottomans. And you are supporting that," Erdogan added.
